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More Than the Minimum

Deciding who to hire and promote is the most important role of an environmental health manager. Talented and highly motivated professionals create exceptional environmental health programs. Lackluster employees produce mediocre or even failing programs. Without exception, top-quality programs don’t exist without top-quality people.

So how, as a manager, does one distinguish between talented and highly motivated job applicants and those who will never rise above mediocrity? Some of the things I always consider are the experiences gained, training courses completed, and credentials earned that were not required by the applicant’s current employer or academic program.

Highly motivated professionals always do more than the minimum required. They seek out training opportunities and obtain credentials that make them stand out among their peers. They look for new challenges and opportunities to gain experience in new areas of their field. They are lifelong learners and their passion for their profession is clear from their continuing dedication ...